De Wending, Delfzijl

The urban renewal of Delfzijl-Noord is being tackled energetically. On the site of the obsolescent shopping centre, Matthijs de Boer Stedenbouw [town planning] has designed a town park in collaboration with Paul van Beek Landschappen [landscapes]. The new ‘De Wending’ shopping centre is situated on the park, around a centrally located shopping square, as a link between the park and the neighbourhood. The starting point of the design was the creation of a worthy building for the revitalisation of the neighbourhood. The square has been given a closed character, with rounded sides. The designers have gone for a classical appearance, through their choice of materials: the much-loved Groningen red brick, combined with white bands. Dwellings above the shops ensure a continuing liveliness. In this way, a new formal square has been created, given a friendly character by the rounded forms: literally a ‘turning point’ = ‘Wending’ for the neighborhood.